The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-07-21

yohn H. Harmon's Recollections OF the
famous Statesman.

yohn H. Harmon's Recollection. Of the
Famous Statesman.
| From the Detroit Free Press.
at was Henry Clay's purpose" said
John A. Harmon, continuing his Dry
of his recollectlons of the famous orator
and statesman, "to leave Washington
Immediately after his speech. The
early fall weather was really the Indian
summer season, and most favorable TO
such journey as he had in mind. His
speech IN the senate chamber, on his
farewell, quite overcame him. Though
he held to the end under strong mental
influence the orator never rallied again.
Very much exhausted Clay was taken
| TO his rooms at the old National hotel
| at Washington and never afterwards
left them. The winter came and went;
| the session continued with it. Every
day, right after prayers in the senate,
the chair announced the state of his
health. The announcements directly
became rather stereotyped. 1t was
usually, MIR. Clay is gradually falling
after time it became Mr.. Clay il fail
ing rapidly next we heard Mr.. Clay is
sinking, but his mind is very clear.
Finally it came to be understood that
if he should die during the hours of the
session the bells should toll in an
nouncement of it.
cit was upon morning in the early
part of may, 1852, q season beyond all
others most delightfully."- beautiful in
Washington. The trees and shrubs of
the capitol grounds and the flower beds
were fresh and pleasant to look upon.
| "Hannegan of Indianna, an Irish
man, bright as silver, witty, eloquent
and always interesting, had the floor of
the senate, making set speech on our
policy with regard to foreign affairs.
His seat was well up toward the rear.
Being of a quick and nervous tempera-
ment, he took the main aisle, and while
declaiming would work himself for
ward almost to the clerks desk, discov-
ering which, he would bound way back,
going through these motions continu-
ously until he had finished. Senator
Frye, of Maine, has very much the same
method. A son of Senator Hannegan,
a fine appearing, gray headed man, is
one of the messengers of the senate now.
He frequently asks me about his father.
Hannegan was speaking in his quick
impulsive manner, half way down the
aisle and progressing with an enthusi-
astic sentence, when the single toll of a
bell quivered through the air. Hanne-
gan ceased speaking in flash, bound
ed back to the rear, turned pale, and in
tremulous voice said: Mr.. President,
the probabilities are that the great
| a,f A,oorioo 10 pnuy M
more; move that the senate adjourn
There was no chance to vote upon it.
Instantly every man took his hat and
coat, and before the second toll of the
bell came all were away. The same sort
of proceedings must have dispersed the
house, for I remember as we passed
through the rotunda that it was full OF
members issuing therefrom.
"The rapidity with which the city
was thrown into mourning has always
caused me to wonder. Walking direct
from the capitol, when we reached the
edge of the grounds where the peace
monument now is, Pennsylvania avenue
was seen to be filled with streamers o1
black, hanging from windows, fastened
to balconies, wound round columns and
awning poles, and stretched across the
street. It was solemn sight.
"The National hotel was thick with
Grape, and so was Morrison's book store
adjoining it. It is the same store still
now kept by Morrison's son, and former
ly the resort and lounging place of both
Clay and Webster. There were two
little back rooms, one always occupied
by Clay and the other by Webster
Here, when they had leisure, botl
would always be found reading and
studying or discussing literature, new
and old, but very seldom politics, with
friends and admirers who came te
seek them out. Clay passed more time
at Morrison's than Webster. The little
rooms did not communicate, and Meth.
er statesman could be seen by the
other.
The event, though long expected
shocked people to the extent that all
business was suspended. Many bar
rooms, even, were closed. and in others
men lowered their voices and conversed
in quiet tones, as if in the presence Of
the dead. WAS in Washington at the
time of the assassination of Lincoln,
| duA dS0l1 hb GIlhU VI SdIAC11t, Dut
neither event appeared so throw such
gloom over the city as the death oi
Henry Clay. The feeling was one Of
pure sorrow, unmixed with indignation
or anger, such as is felt at the deeds
which led to the murder of the presi-
dents. On these occasions men We're
boisterous with threats and grief, but
silence and gloom overspread the city
where lay the dead body of the much
loved orator and statesman. It was in
time Of peace, and the capital was un-
used to such shocks, and therefore men
talked in whispers when all was over
with Henry Clay.
"He was buried in the Congressional
cemetery, ana a monument was placed
upon the spot, but there is nothing un-
der it. Strangely enough for all the
many years Clay had passed in Wash
ington, his wife had never visited that
city. Once he had started to take his
daughter to reside there during the ses-
sion, but she died on the way. Mrs.
Clay always remained at their Kentucky
plantation of Ashland, and managed
the estate while her husband devoted
himself to national affairs.
| His body was disinterred from the
congressional cemetery and taken back
to his old Kentucky home. 1t was tax
en- by the Baltimore and Ohio to Cum.
berland, as far as the railroad was ther
completed, and from thence in hearse
by the old National road to the Ohio
river. Ceremonial opsequles were held
for Henry Clay in all the cities Of ths
country.
How Camphor Is Made.